The Gambia’s Sheriff Department has been alleged to have sold 725 heads of cattle owned by exiled former President Yahya Jammeh at a sum of 2.4 million dalasis, according to an investigation report by The Republic – an online investigation media.

The investigation piece published on Tuesday followed the appearance of the country’s minister of justice Dawda A Jallow before lawmakers on Wednesday that he was unable to access information on the sale of the livestocks of former president Yahya Jammeh other than the D8.3m deposited in an account at the Trust Bank.

The livestock of the former president were sold by the Sheriff of the High Court in January 2018 after a court presided over by the late Justice Buba Jawo approved their sale.

“An investigation by The Republic published on Tuesday has revealed that the Sheriff sold 725 heads of cattle below valuation by at least D2.4m. A 3-page report on the sale by the Sheriff failed to name the buyers. The records reviewed by The Republic also contain at least 4 different official figures regarding the number of Jammeh’s cattle. There was no trace of his wild animals or other livestock such as sheep, goats, ducks,” the medium said in its report.

According to the report, the minister was cautious not to mention any figure, as it quoted him as saying in the Sheriff’s report through which he knew the account details claimed to have sold 725.

“I cannot inform this Assembly, with my best effort, how many cattle were there and who bought how much and in what quantity and at what price.

“All that we can find out was when the cattle sale was completed, they realized D8m and that money was put into an account. That account was surrendered to us and we moved the money to the National Treasury. Beyond that, other details, I don’t know. And I did everything possible to get the information for you but I am not able to get it,” the justice minister said, according to The Republic added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba